Norman Rockwell pictures always seem to depict the perfect
Christmas. I wonder how many families in
America actually have a nuclear family, children living with their biological
parents. With a divorce rate of 50% or more, half of the homes do not. That means, Christmas trees are surrounded
with children with one parent and a step-parent or a single parent sharing both
duties.
It is hard to see and hear about huge families all gathered
sharing memories year after year and not have those traditions within your own
family. But having
When I look back at the memories I have had with my
children, pre-divorce, it was a great deal easier to celebrate. Not having to
split children between two families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was less
stressful. For the children, having both
parents present I am certain Christmas morning was more exciting than having
one parent there.
Luckily my ex coordinated gift-buying with me so we did not
double up on gifts. It still was a
strain and meant, many holidays it was anything but ‘normal’ after the first
several years. There were step-parents
to deal with, who never feel quite the same about the kids, more family
get-togethers to go to which is not always fun when kids turn into teens.
As my children turned to adults and had children, the clock
seemed to turn back. I saw them return to babes again, sitting back and seeing
reminders right before my eyes.
Grandchildren full of wonder at Christmas lights, ripping open presents
when they were large enough to understand what to do with a gift, and fearing
Santa but wanted to give him their wish list!
But, much as I and many want that Norman Rockwell Christmas,
your children have their lives too and sometimes you can’t be a part of it. And
so, as it goes,
Friends are chosen family too. Find your circle of love to
